Organizers of a food packing event at Canton High School say the event was a success

CANTON — Canton High School students along with volunteers from other groups packed 8,646 meals during an event at the high school on May 30 and they will be distributed to needy people, organizers said.

The project was done by students in the high school's LEO Club, a social service organization. Students worked with with Feeding Chidren Everywhere, which is a non-profit group that does anti-hunger projects in this country and abroad. Members of Canton Adolescents Taking Action, another social service oriented club at the high school, helped too.

Cecile Mancini and Gabrielle Aitchison, the LEO club's advisors, said in a statement that the group held fundraisers throughout the school year to buy the food. The project culminated on May 30 when the food was packed into individual meals. Aitchison and Mancini said the number of meals packed was more than double what the club had originally set out to do.

"8,646 meals were packed that will be donated locally and internationally, most likely going to Nepal," the two teachers said. "A huge thanks to all the volunteers as well as local businesses that made this event possible."

The food packing was done at the high school. Aitchison and Mancini said 65 volunteers and three employees from Feeding Children Everywhere worked to get the packing done. Volunteers included students and staff from the high school, members of the LEO Club at Avon High School, town residents, members of the Congregational Church of Burlington, local Girl Scouts, members of the Canton Lions Club and employees of the Shop Rite store in town.

Organizers said the Whole Donut franchise in town donated refreshments for the volunteers and Superintendent of Schools Kevin Case arranged to have the high school open on Saturday for the event.

A similar project was done by the Canton Lions Club in 2014 and the year before that. The Lions were not able to do it this time and the LEO Club decided to take it on themselves.